There is Hope has handed over medical supplies worth K102 million to Dzaleka Health Centre in Dowa.
The organisation’s deputy executive director Anock Kapira said the organisation has been making such donations for six years, with support from the International Association for Refugees Canada in partnership with Partners International Canada.
He said the medical supplies will help both refugees at Dzaleka Refugee Camp and surrounding communities who seek medical care from the facility.
Said Kapira: “We realise the challenges here at Dzaleka, especially in the health sector. These medical supplies do not only benefit those in the camp but even surrounding communities.
“We have been doing this for the past five years and this is the sixth year.”
The facility’s clinical officer in-charge Henry Lali said the hospital helps over 86 000 people from the camp and the surrounding communities.
“We need such support because many people come here for medical services. Many people have hope that when they come here, they will be assisted,” he said.
On her part, International Association for Refugees executive director Laura Dobrowolski said the organisation entered into partnership with There is Hope to support Dzaleka Health Centre in 2019 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We saw that we share the same mission with There is Hope, so we decided to work with them to support Dzaleka Health Centre which we learned helps many people within and outside the camp,” she said.
Dzaleka Refugee Camp manager Elton Phulusa said despite already being overcrowded, the camp continues receiving new refugees and asylum seekers which piles more pressure on health services and other needs.
